Understanding Cultural Differences in a Workplace

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Understanding Culture Differences in a Workplace Angelia Davis SOCS 350 Cultural Diversity in the Professions DeVry University September 7, 2013 Cultural diversity is a work in progress every day in an organization or business. According to Bell (2012), diversity is defined as” real or perceived differences among people in race, ethnicity, sex, age, physical and mental ability, sexual orientation, religion, work and family status, weight and appearance, and other identity attributes that affect their interactions and relationships.” Professionals and managers of businesses/organizations need an understanding of the differences between culture, ethnic, and gender to develop a successful company and engaged employees. Understanding these components is crucial because they are important aspects of diversity in a workplace. Violation of any of the three could have negative consequences for the company. Culture is a set of beliefs, values, morals a group of people share or a way of life (Bell, 2012). Managers and professionals build relationships with one another through work relations and personal relations; they begin to understand each one’s personal culture, as a result, this leads to mutual respect towards each other. Respecting one’s culture bridges a gap between people, this bridge connects to trust, honor and loyalty. Professional relationships develop over time and make an enormous difference in the success of a company. It’s important to bridge cultural gap to develop a diverse organization. A diverse organization has a positive impact on the success of the company. In the Let’s Be Lefties for a Day experiment, I realized how dependent I was on my right hand. Due to the inability to use it, I realized I was different from others. This is an example of cultural differences- this became ‘my way of life’ for
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